Harbhajan Singh Sues Vijay Mally’s UB Group over Dhoni Ad Mocking Bhajji

The spirited affair, pun intended, seems to be set to played out in the courts after the Indian off spinner is taking on the Indian captain, albeit indirectly, over an ad that has caused a furore.

Harbhajan Singh featured prominently in a caricature of his life story for a Seagram Royal Stag ad that goes by the motto “Live it large”. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, though had other ideas in the ad for McDowell’s No.1 (soda) when he turns off the television set at a bar, with an ad mocking Harbhajan Singh, or rather his lookalike, with his father reprimanding him.

The ad is particularly sensational given the fact that Dhoni and Bhajji happen to be not only team mates in the Indian dressing room but also, known to be friends off the cricket field. Stories abound in the similarities of pursuits of both men off the field, including each choosing to spend extravagantly on their Hummer vehicles.

Harbhajan Singh has also shared an emotional relationship with his late father whose dreams for his son included his playing for India one day. Today Harbhajan Singh has become a successful off spinner and the lead spinner in the Indian cricket team, taking 400 Test wickets in the Caribbean as testimony to the fact. The loss of his father and his shouldering the responsibility of his family have made for a great story woven around his success, something that was touched upon during the Seagram ad.

To now have Harbhajan Singh mocked in the Pernod Ricard's Royal Stag ad that too with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, handed the remote control, has sent a rather disturbing image of a fractious relationship, pitting one player against another as two liquor brands take on each other. Although nothing could be further from the truth and the ad itself is not expected to cause any strain between the captain and his lead spinner on the tour of England, the sentiments have undoubtedly been hit with the ad hitting the channels with gusto and with the claim of the hurt, humiliation and exploitation of a personal relationship, Harbhajan Singh’s lawyers of Dewani Advocates and Consultants have now filed a legal notice to Vijay Mallya ( owner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore ) and his UB Spirits Group.

The notice filed on behalf of Avtar Kaur, Harbhajan Singh’s mother, states

My client is serving you with the instant notice to give you an opportunity to accept your mistake and make amends. Failing this, we will have no other alternative than to take appropriate legal action including that of filing proceedings for defamation, damages and all such civil as well as criminal actions.

The advice is to print a public apology to Bhajji’s family while taking the ad off air. The whiskey brand ad is now causing friction, albeit in proxy fashion, between two of India’s leading cricketers. While alcohol advertising is banned in India, there is little doubt of this being a case of surrogate advertising, with some Indian cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar shying away completely from such endorsements.